The Halton Children’s Aid Society (Halton CAS) is horrified by the senseless, targeted shooting that claimed the lives of ten innocent Black people and wounded three others in Buffalo, New York on May 14, 2022. This shooting was motivated by hate, violence and racist white supremacist ideology as Black people were targeted. These acts of senseless violence are rooted in extremism and remind us that the call to address anti-Black racism – in all its forms – requires vigilance as it remains ever-present today. This incident is a strong example of why the work of social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion is so very important.
Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and friends, our Black staff and the Black community. These events are deeply painful and emotional for all, but especially for our Black and other racialized colleagues.
Halton CAS condemns racism in all its forms. We must continue to work together towards building safety, inclusion and belonging, the building blocks that enable our racialized staff, children, youth, families and the communities we serve to contribute and thrive. We must all do better.